Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-29
A Good Living.

| We once listened to distinguished
preacher who opened a secular discourse
with the striking statement, that it was
the first duty of everv man to keep his
( family off the town. When we all come
to think of it, he uttered an injunction
which includes all the truth contained in
n principle. 1t is the first duty of man
living in a civilized society to keep his
family off of the town. And after ment.
ally making the round of all the callings
and occupations followed. and studying
the list of industries to which men are in
vited to devote their labor and talent, not
one is to be named that so readily satisfies
the requirements tor enabling a man to
fulfil this duty of caring for his family as
farming. The soil aud he elements are
in combination to help him in his worthy
task. The earth denies nothing reason
able to those who go directly to it for
sustenance. The fact that even the rudest
methods of cultivation are sure to Weld
some kind OF return. which in SINE wav
may become adequate to current neces-
sites. is the strongest possible evidence
that living is certain on the land when
it is precarious in other ways.
Farming is the limit of the nomadic life
and the beginning of the social and
civilized. Tillage bespeaks fixity, settle
ment, and concentrated exertiop; and
these are the stakes that must always be
driven firmly down before race can
claim to have set out on the highway OF
progress. 1t is nothing to the purpose to
saw that it does not admit of making
fortunes. or even much money, as some
of the other occupations do. The later.
be it ALWAYS remembered, never can feed
people, since they produce nothing; while
farming is a creative industry, getting
something that is necessary where no hing
was before. 1t is sure to give one a
living according to the intelligence and
skill with which it is followed This is of
tar greater importance than merely max
ing money. As those who possess
fortunes come to regard sound
security of tar more importance in
making investments than high rates OF
interest. so should the calling that supplies
the best assurance of living be held in
much higher esteem than one which,
though IL may tempt with large and gilt
tering prizes, is not to he depended upon
for a support under all circumstances, and
with the application OF ordinary intelli.
gence.
Who should enjoy more solid sense of
security and contentment than he who
feels sure that he can make a living for
himself and his dependent family every
year? Nor is the family wholly dependent,
either, in farming. as it is in all other vo.
cations. and especially those which pertain
to the work of distribution. On the farm
every hand is a helping one, great and
small. Children are taught to be useful
in various ways, and for their own benefit
equally with that of the family.
Woman, too. finds a natural occupation
in this strictly domestic sphere.
All things, in fact, assist in making up a
little world of industry, in which each one
is interested. And the occupation, espec-
tally in these modern times, is crowded
with variety. 1t has passed out OF its
former stage of monotony, and while the
soil Is described as laboratory. the homo